IDF kills 2 Palestinians near Gaza security fence

Army says Air Force craft opened fire at three Palestinian Islamic Jihad members as they were attempting to plant roadside bomb near Kissufim crossing, along the security fence engulfing Gaza Strip; at least two Palestinians killed; bomb was to be used in ambush of IDF vehicle

The IDF said Thursday evening that an aircraft opened fire at three Palestinians as they were attempting to plant a roadside bomb near the Kissufim crossing, along the security fence engulfing the Gaza Strip.

At least two of the Palestinians were killed, the army said.

The bomb was to be used in an ambush of an IDF vehicle.

Three Islamic Jihad members were spotted by a Southern Command look-out post as they were approaching the security fence near Kissufim in south Gaza. The Palestinians, who came within 90 meters (about 300 feet) of the fence, apparently planned to place a bomb meant for an IDF vehicle.

Qassams on Sderot

Givati Brigade soldiers tracked the Palestinians down, and an Air Force craft dispatched to the scene opened fire at the three Jihad members.

The army later permitted Palestinian paramedics to clear the bodies of the three Islamic Jihad activists.

Earlier on Thursday Islamic Jihad members fired Qassam rockets toward
Sderot and western Negev communities. The organization has repeatedly attempted to place bombs along the Gaza border fence, and since the IDF’s unilateral withdrawal from the Strip in the summer of 2005 Palestinians have succeeded in doing so at least 40 times.

In several incidents Palestinians were shot at by soldiers while planting bombs.